F 74 
.S8 S66 
Copy 1 



O^i/VJO^-^ 



C Auva^ 




OF THE FOUNDING OF 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. 



^ >i 












('c>()l,^^■s lliiTKi IN ISI14 



HearTe! Hear Tel 



FORASMUCH as it has pleased the Ahiiit-hty God to 
brino; peace, plenty and prosperity to the ancient town 
of Springfield upon the Kiver Connecticut, and whereas it was 
two hundred and seventy-five years ago this day that y*^ town 
was settled by William Pynchon and his companions. 

'^tCrCfore. Be it known that tiiis day is set apart from all 
others, to be observed in due form and proper spirit, without 
undue pomp or pageantry, as becomes the ideals of our 
forefathers. 

And further, be it known, that as y'' town has lived in unity 
of purpose so shall it live through the ages. 

And therefore, Citizens of Sin'ingfield, observe this day by re- 
joicing in the fullness of \our lives and the fruitfulness of your 
labors. Greet your neighbors and the stranger within our 
gates that all may be one and that one may be all. 

Given this 26th day of Alay in the !:27oth year of the town 
and the o8th year of tlu- city. 

K. II. Lathkoi'. Mayor 



God Save Springfield 




Main Strf.ki \m) IImiiusov Avknle in ISHS 



i^^th ^Anniversary Committees 



C'oL. Arcws'i' II. (roKTrixci, C'/riinii(i?i 

K\Ki{KTT K. Bf.ldixc;. Sccirttiry 

A\ ii.i.iAM V. Adams Bukwf.u ("okcokax Joskimi (". Ai,i,i;\ 

Mati'ukw II. Fakuf.1,1, (ii;x. Kmiu'uy P. Ci.auk 

CiiAKi.Ks 1}. Hitchcock \\'ii.i.iam M. Stf.vkxsox 

(Al)|)nintf(l l)V Mavcih i;. 11. I.ATIIKOI') 

Luncbron 

I'allili K. SafFord, Clitiininin Kdwaril S. BraiUbril Charles T. Sliuan 

Charles H. Hall James K. Miller 

Cfrrrtsfo at d'catrr 

Brewer Corcoran, Chalniiini Hwi^iht (). Gilmore E. N. Richards 

E. L. Burke Kenneth Robbie 

Clolirro fit 2ri)catrE 

Geo. E. Howard, ChainiKUi Thomas W. Hyde Robert P. Marsh 

Marvin C. Birnic Robert Medlicott James Kemptoii 

Frederick Hopkins Gcorfj-e Robinson 

iMetorical Loan liErbifait 

Clifford B. I'otter, (l/diniKni Henry C. Hailc, I'iri-Cliiiii'iiuiii 

HisToHu Ai. Din'Aur.MKN T — Prof. J. T. Bowne, Cli<tiniitni. Col. Stanhope E. 
Blunt, Edwaril S. Brewer, Charles A. Frazer, Rev. J. H. Lockwooil. Oscar 
B. Ireland, Hiller C. Wellnian, Mrs. James L. Johnson. Miss Ambia C. 
Harris, Mrs. Frederick Harris. Mrs. Win. A. Lincoln, Mrs. Jamis H. L ar- 
roll. Mrs. Win. G. Wheat. Mrs. Win. F. Adams, Miss Ida F. Farrar. 
PoKTiiAiTS — Henrv A. Booth, ClnurnHtti, l^'rancke W. Uii-kinson, IJexter 
P, Lillie, Charles H. Barrows, Robert O. Morris, Henry C. Haile, Harold 
A. Lev, Mrs. Richard F. Hawkins, Miss 1\L Louise Dunbar, Miss Claribel 
H. Smith. Mrs. A. H.Watson, .\riss Estella j\L Lapham, Mrs. Geo. Pirnie. 
Art — Rev. Ur. Harwood Huntin^^ton, ClininiKui. Charles H. Hall. H. C. 
Rowley. Frank G. Tobey. Rev. Dr. J. L. R. Trask, J. Stuart Kirkham, 
Charles L. Goodhue, Mrs. A. A. Packard. Mrs. Frank H. Wesson. Mrs. 
G. W. V. Smith. Mrs. A. B. Wallace. Mrs. H. H. Bowman, Miss Eleanor 
A. Wade, Mrs. Edmond IL Smith. 



SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS 

Founded by William Pynchon, 1636 





Oi.n Kaii.koao Staikin am> (iuAUK C'i(ci>,sis(. is 1>^^ 

275//; Anniversary Committees 

Inotorical i&ftftriirs 

Henry Lasker. L'ha'tnnan Robert C. Pepper. SerreUu-y 

Henry N. Bowman Kurt R. Sternberg 

ADfascrbancfB in sSthOOlg — Joseph C. Allen 

Sfaiarrbanrrs in ^Clnirrhria — Everett E. Beldino: 

Jnbitations 



Brewer Corcoran. Chalnium 

Charles B. Hiteheock 

©roijrams 

A. L. S. Wood, Chiiiniuni Ralph R. French 

Alfred L. S. Wood. Chainnan Ralph R. French 
William E. Wallace 

80rtial8 

Brewer Corcoran, L'luunnan Charles B. Hitchcock Robert F. Day 

Henry J. Beebe, Jr. Harold A. Ley William F. Adams 



Gen. E. P. Clark 

Kenneth Robbie 
John B. Callashan 



Everett E. Beldin<>-. Clinirmnii 



/Flacs 



J. T. Schauweker 



Dccorationa — Oscar Buchhol/. 

SToUin Criers 
Col. CnAHi.ES L. ^'m ng, Chitif Crifi- 



J. R. Ramsay 
H. C. Cassidv 
W. J. H viand 
S. C. I'ike 
W. T. Butnian 
H. E. Cook 
T. H. Flcminfi; 
(W-or^e M. (lay 
Henry Bryant 
Earl W. Brvant 
E. C. Hazeii 
H. R. Dole 



R. P. Smith 
E. C. Davis 
Louis Brams. Jr. 
H. H. Knapp 
C. 1). Root 
lli'nr\- Packard 
E. B.'Alvord 
J. B. Ilarriiifiton 
Walter Hicks 
Harry Coolcy 
Harry Cady 



W. A. Leison 
T. W. Burden 
B. M. Collins 
I-:. B. Calcf 
E. R. Burner 
J. V. ()"Hani<.n 
T. .1. Lasarcs 
J. J. Hughes 
J. F. Foss 
John Hodffes 
1\. Carl Moore 




l<l\lli iHllM 1'k 111 Ml lllll IS |N7 



Programme for the Day 



(j A. .\F. —Sunrise (inns will lire a Salute to be followi'd by 
Salutes by tin- Whistles and IJells of the eity. 

PkoCI.AMATIOX liV THK U\)\VX CuiEHS. 



ExKUClSKS I\ ALT, IIIP: SciIOOLS. 

(S. a. R. iSprafecrs 

Central Hifjli Seliool and Wortliinjiton Strt-et, C"ol. John L. Rice. 

Technical Hi<ih and Lincoln wSchool. Major U. M. Brewster. 

Armory Strci't, Coniniandi'r Hein\\ M. Sniitli. 

Barrows and Eastern Avi-nue. Horace Goodwin. 

Belmont AveniK' and Kensin}>ton Avenue, James Anderson. 

Buckingham, William B. Covil. 

Carew Street, Janu-s B. Kceiu'. 

Central Street aiul White Street, He\ . K. S. Withen^ll. 

Chest luit Street. Oscar B. Ireland. 

Kast Union Street, Orrison J. Tarhox. 

Homer Street, Georfi'e 1). Shaw. 

Hooker Street. T. S. Stewart. 

Howard Street and State Street, J. W. Hersey. 

Indian Orchard Cirammar. Rob Roy McGregor. 

.lelTerson .\scnue. 'I'hecKlore Manee. 

.School .Street. Col. S. C. W'arriner. 

South .Main Street, Dwi-ht M. Chapman. 

'l"a|iiey .Seiiool. John I',. .Stannai'd. 

Wdliam Street. William H. Hawkins. 



Pro(irammc for the I^av — continued 



().;>() r. \i. — 15. WD ('o\( i;i!i' ()\ ('oil!!' S(ir.\i!i.. 

I3roijr!iin 

I. .M\ii(ii, Colonel I'.stry ........ lUtijli)! 

1. ( )\i:n iTHi:. W'illiiiii I'l-ll ....... HoKxiiii 

'A. Si:i,i:iTioN. Til.' ('li(H-ol;ilc Soldier Sfraiiss 

I. !'.( iioi:s rno.M iiii: M i:i noroi i tan ()i'i:i;a liorsi; . . . 'rolxiiii 
'). Hkmixisi i:m i:s oi' Si on. and ...... (iuil/ni/ 

(i. HxmroNr: Soi.o. Selected ...... Ctrl«iiii scli'i 

?. ("lUAND 1''aN-|ASI A. Me] ill istoplu'les ..... 'I'dlKllli 

S. Si:i.i:crioN . Hriulit I'.yes ....... /Ih.scIiiki 

!>. Ami:huan I'ani'asii-: ........ Ilirlurt 

S I'. Ai. — KxKiicisKs IX CoiKT SciiAKK 'I'l I i:Ari;K. 

1. CoNlKliT 

HARDYS ORCHESTRA 

2. Rkadim; (11 AsNnKiiSAiiv Pixu i.a.ma riox hv Town Cmiit 

CHARLES L. YOUNG 

S. Invocation. Pastor of tlu' I'irst C'iiiireli 

REV. I)R. NEIL McPHERSON 

4-. OiMNiNc; Ciioms. The Land of the Free . . . Whifmnrk 

CALHOUN CLUB. Edwin N. Richards, D.rator 

.'}. Addhkss 

MAYOR EDWARD H. LATHROP 

()'. Ai)i)iu:ss. Siirin<ifii-ld <)f the Past 

CHARLES H. BARROWS 

7. SoNc. Those Son^s My.Mother I'sed to Sins' • • ■ Siiii/li 

E. A. SWIFT and CALHOUN CLUB 

H. .Xdoress. Springfield of the Present 

WILLIAM G. McKECHNIE 

i). .\NNivKTiSARY PoF.M ..... t'lidrli'S (lonilrich Wh'it'nig 
Read by REV. DR. PHILIP S. MOXOM 

Id. Patimoik Midikv. Lest We For-iet . . I\ihrhi .V. IHrluirdu 

CALHOl'N CLUB 

II. Aw AiiDiNi, o! I'mzKs, I'or llie 1 listorical l'".ssavs by School Cliddreii 

COL. GOETTING 

I?. Ai)i)i{i:ss. Springfield ot the Future 

C. W. BOSWORTH 

l:i. .Vmehua 

CALHOUN CLUB and tho Audience 

IIisToitic Loan Ismiii'.ii' — 

1(1 A. M. until 1(1 v. M. Wednesday. Thursday and i'riday. in the ('lia])el (f 
the i'irst Church, Court Stju.ari-. 




L()()KiN(; Kast from 185 i 




I I,i\F.i.. MiNicirvT, lowm 




I.EVKL. Ml NlCll'AI. ToWKR 




I'lUMIlKNI .\llKlMI\'> \ 1^11 IN I- 



Programme for the Day — eon tinned 



%,^t ^pciiKfrs in t!jf l}iff^ ^r^oolo 

AIoxDAi. Charles II. liaiTow s. " Tlu' P\ iirhous and the Set- 
tleineiit of Spi-iniifield. " 

TiKsDAV. Ileiii-y A. IJooth. "Lite in Sprini!,iiel(l in the 
Colonial Days."' 

^\'l•l)\*^. l'i-()f. Jaeol) T. l^)\\ne. ""The Settlers and the 
Indians. "" 

I'lMhAV. W'idi.nn (i. MeKeehnie. '" Si)i-in!4(iel(l ;ind Sluns* 

lu'hellion. "" 




ri;iiMi'ii,M. Am II. .'.Mm II A n \ i \ i i:^ \i; ■. . M 



Spring field 1636 and 191 1 




INCH the history of Sprinjifielil was written for the pro- 
firaniiiie of the I'c-lehratioii of the i.iOth anniversary the city 
has more than shared the proj^ress of the country. It has 
jiTown from a population of 37. .577 in 1SH.5 to 8S,9>(j in 1910; 
its property valuation has grown from •'?3(i.7S-i,-2()-2 in 1SS(> 
to .S119.()S1,77S; its taxes in 1SS() amounted to S3.S(),4.S.5.i-2, 
in 19I0 to SI, ;)7<>. 7(1,5 11. Tlu' tax rate has only increased 
from Sli.SO on one thousand dollars to S1,5.S(). 

In these tweuty-fivt' years of its greatest growth the 
city has experienced no ■"boom"" with its inevitable re;u-- 
tion; there have been no overwhelming disasters to retai'd 
tile steady growth of Western Massachusetts' greatest city. 
The railroad problem, solved by nu-ans of the Arch and 
the re-establishment of grades sinc-e the history of 1SS(> 
was written, again has been outgrown and the c-ity is deciding on a new 
plan to embrace a Riverfront park and possibly the removal of tlu' rail- 
road tracks to the west bank of tlu' river. 

Thi' City Hall built in 1S,J4- was burned January ,5. 190.5 ;ind is being 
replai-ed by a million dollar group that will be oiu- of the most beautiful 
in the I'uited States. The exterior of tiie Auditorium has been completed 
and tlu- clock tower has just reac-hed its height of .SOO feet 

Since ISSfi the city has witnessed and taken its part in the development 
of the trolly systi-m. automobik's and aero]ilanes. The country has 
fought a war with vSpain. .Springhi-ld sent her fidl quota into Cuba, Porto 
I{ico. the i'liiliiipines and the i-aiups of the Sout h and her sons won gen- 
erous lani'els for themselves and their n.ative city. 

In tile constructive history of tiu' city noti'worthx .icliie\ cnu-nts have 
been m.ade in evei-y dep.iit iiuni . Tlie uierchants liave prosperi-d and 
liirir ui.irkets lia\c wideiicd; tiie industries h;i\e increased in number, 
\.ilue and \arict\ ; tlie scliool system has taken a position among the fore- 
most in tlic (iiuntiy; forest Park lias been conceived and become a reality; 
tlie city lias met ami coiKiuered its slum problem with jdaygrounds. boys' 
club .•ind intelligent settlement work; the '".Siife and Sane fourth of July*' 
idea, born here has been fostered and the Springheld celel>r;it ion is iiniipU'. 
No city in the I'nited States boasts greater or more justit'i.able civic pride 
than Springtiekl. where every citizen feels personal responsibility for tlie 
governnuMit i.f his home tow n and li.as .-i ]il,ice in nnniici;ial business .•ind 
pU-asure. 



Springfield 1636 and 191 i 



I'Ik' tollowiiij^- account of tlic scttlciiicnt of Siiriiigfickl is from Kind's 
Haiulhook of Spriiijifickl aiul was j)rintc<l in the profiTaniiiic of the cele- 
bration of thi' .'.>()th anniversary: 

••On the (ilii of .Ma> . l(i;r/( l-'ivc years after tlu' settlement of Boston), 
the iniiahitants of Koxljiiry had libei-ty ^iranted them to ri-movi- them- 
selves to any jflai-e they shouki tiiink meet, not to prejudice another |)laii- 
tation. provided they should continui- under the fiovernmi-nt of Massa- 
c-husetts. In accordance with this permission, William Pynchon, a 
I)atentee and ma<iistrate under the colony charter, and others, c-ame with 
their families from Koxhury and located themselves, in the si)riTifi- of 1<)S(>. 
at Sprinfitieid, tiien known by its Iiuiian name of A<>awam. 

'•()n the lltii of .May. KiSfi. Mr. Pynchon. Henry Smith (Pynclion's 
son-in-law), INIatthew Mitcliell. Jehu Hnrr. William Blake, lulnmrid \\'oocl, 
Thomas UfFord anil John C'aijle si^iiu-d a written ajirt-ement of the settk-- 
nn'nt. 

"None of the sif^nei'S of this aiireement, exc-ept Pynclion and Smith 
remained here lon<;-. Most of them left within three years. Other settlers 
came, and on the KJth of May twelve persons received allotments of land. 

"Soon aftt-r tlieir arrival the settlers entered into ne<i-otiation with 
the Indians for the purchase of a site for the plantation. The land was 
valuabk- to the Intlians mainly as affording- a ran^e for hunting- and tishinfj,-, 
and the fiatherin<i- of nuts and wild fruits that grew spontani-ously. In 
addition, they had small patc-hes of c-ultivated ground, where they raised 
their corn. They were willing to sell to the planters the land they re- 
quired, reserving to themselves only such uses of it as they were accustom- 
ed to enjoy. 

"Accordingly, by a deed ext'cutcd witli due formality on the l.>th of 
July. I().S(). — for the purjiort of which was expiaini'd to them l)y an Indian 
interpreter from the Bay.— two of (lie "ancient Indians of .\gawam." for 
themselves and ek-ven other Inilians wiio claimed to l)e proprietors of 
the land, conveyed to William Pynchon. Henry Smith, anti Jeliu Burr, 
their heirs and associates forever a large tract of land on botli sides of the 
river, including the greater part of the land now oi-cupieil by the city of 
Springfield. For this dei-d Pynchon and his assoc-iates paid a consideration 
which was satisfactory to the Indians, and of which they never et)mplained. 

"The first settlers built their houses on the westerly side of tlu' town 
street, which was about eighty rods easterly of tiu' rivt-r anil substantially 
j)arallel to it. 

"Tiie first allotment of lands was maile in May, Ki;}*), to tiie I'ight 
signers of the agreement, anil four otliers who had joineil them. As most of 
these twelve jjcrsons left the })lantati()n soon, their allotment of land was 
afterward greatly altered by anew division, which was the basis of the 
permanent settlement. This new ili vision assigned to each man a home 
lot extending from tlie street to the river, with a portion of the meadow 
and upland of e((ual width on the i-asterly siile of the street. In general 
these home lots wei-e eight rods wide. Pynchon and a few others had lots 
nnich wider. The town street of that day corresj)onded. substantially with 
the presi-nt Main street of the city, in its general course. Besides this 
principal stri'et, there were three narrow lanes leading from it to thi> river. 
These with greatly inereasetl width, are now represented by Kim street, 
York stri'i't and Cyi)ress street. The only road running easterly from the 
town street was in some i)art of its course the same as the ))resent State 
street. 

■'In 1()H() the |)lanlalion of Agawam was supposeil to be in the same 
jurisdiction as Windsor, Ilai'tford and Wetln'rsfick! ; and the government 
of tiu'se four towns was administereil by connnissioners appointed by tlie 
Oeneral Court of Massachusetts. Pynchon anil Smith wvm members of 
this commission, and Pynchon atteniled its session at Hartford. A more 
accurate survey of the division-line between Massachusi-tts and Connect- 
icut established the fact, that Agawam fell within the jurisdiction of 
Massachusetts, anil k'ft the si-ttk-r here temporarily without an\ magis- 



Springfield 1636 and 191 i 



tr.itc, ami at slicli a ilislaiicc iVoni ll.c l!a\ as In lir iiracl ica 1 1\ lic\(iiu| lln- 
ri'acli (if till- authorities tlicrc. 

"In this exij^'cncy. tin- planlcrs of A^-awani met on tiic lllh of 
l\-hniary. KiSf). and voted that .\li'. I'vnchdn should execute tlie office of a 
niajiist rate ill the jilantation. \\il:hall the powers necessary to administer 
justice unl il the (ienerai C'om-t shouiil ollierwise oi-(h'r. l'n(h-i- this au- 
tlioi'ity Mr. I'ynchon acted until Jinic-. Kill, u hen he was duly coni- 
niissioned by tiu- (leneral Court with sincilar powers. 

■■()n the I Ith of A|iril. Kill, the name of the town was chamicd. 1)\ a 
\uti' of the inliabitants. from .\>i-awam to Sprinfi-Hcld. 1 his is said to h.ave 
been a coniphnK-nt to I'ynchon. wliose residence in iMi^land iiad Ixeii a 
place of that name. Tiu- Cieneral Court reci)j;ni/,ed tiie town by tlie name 
of Springfield in Kiil. 

•"Prior to Kil-? tlu' bonndsof the tow n wh re (jiiirc indefinite. In KiUS, old 
style. ( K)SJ) as time is now reckoned ) a committt'c, ap])ointed for the jiur- 
pose, describetl the northern boundary as at a brook on the other side of 
the river about a (piarter of a mile above the mouth of Ciiico])ee river. 
'1 he brook at tlie lower iMid of the lon^i' meatlowon the east side of the river, 
and the brook a little below on the west side, art- mentioned as the soutii- 
erly boundary. No east or west boundarj' is ji'iven. 

"In tlie year Kit? the General Court made very lar<ie additions to the 
town of Sprin^iHi-k! : so that it included Westtield. Suffield. a consiiU'rable 
part of Soutlnvick. and the whole of Wi-st 8prin<;field, Holyoke and 
Agawani on the west side of the river; and the present Si)rinfiHeld, Chi- 
copi'c. Entiekl. Somers. \\ ilbraham, I^udlow. Lon<;ineadow. anti II;uu|)(h-n 
on the east side of the river. 

"In the year K)49 tlie subject of witchcraft attracted some attention in 
Spriuf^field One Mary Parsons, wife of IIuj;h Parsons, hati circulated a 
report that a widow named Marshfii-ld, who hat! removed from Windsor to 
Spiin<i-fiekl was <j,-uilty of witchcraft, an offence then punishable with death. 
For this story the widow commenced an action before Mr. Pynchon. ajjainst 
Mary Parsons ; and the magistrate finding- her guilty of this slander, sen- 
tenced her to pay thri'e pounds to the jilaintilf. or else to he whipjicd twenty 
lashes by the constable. 

"Two years later, in May Ki.jl. Mary Parsons was iierself c-jiargcd 
with the crime of witchcraft. She was indicted for having "used divers 
devilish practices by witc-hcraft to the hiu't of Martha and Kebi't-kah 
Moxon, two daughters of the minister, h'or this oflFence she was tried at 
Boston before the Cieneral Court, but ac(iuitted for want of satisfactory 
eviilence. I'pon the charge of murilering her own child, on which she was 
charged at tlie same time, she was convic-ted. and st-ntencetl to death. 

".Vliout this time ( Ki.jl ) Mr. Pynchon incurred the displeasure of the 
(ienerai Court on account of a tiicological book, published in JMiglantl, 
which was alleged to contain heretical sentiments. 'I'lie charge of heresy 
was a very serious one at that day; and when Pynchon adnntted the au- 
thorshiji of the work. and. after being admonisheil by the Court, and 
dealt with by leading divines of the colony, selected toconvince him of his 
errors, failed to make a satisfactory recantation of them, he felt himself to 
be, and was. in no little peril. .\s flu- result of the dilluadty he li'ft Amer- 
ica, and returned to h'.nglaud. in Ki.Ji. where he died a few ye.irs afterward. 
Henry Sunth. his son-in-law. — although designafed as his successor in the 
magistracy in Springfield. — anil Mr. Moxon. the nunister, accompanied 
Pynchon to JMigland. Neither of them rc-turned to this country. I'wo 
nu-mi)ers of Mr. Pynchon's fandly . remained in .Springlield. his son. .lohn 
Pynchon, and his son-in-law h.lizur Ilolyoke. 

".Vfter the dei)arture of Pynchon .and Snuth, SpiMnglleld w.as (hstilute 
of any local magistracy. To pro\ iile for this exigency, the (ienerai Court. 
in October KJ.V.;. ap])ointed three commissioni-rs as magistrates, to govern 
the town. 'I'hese were John Pynchon. I'.lizur Ilolyoke and Samuel Ciia])in. 

"In Kifin was built the tii'sf brick- buildim;- ever erected in Si»ringtield. 
It was the dweliuiL;- house of , lohn Pxiiclion. who is called in tlie records 



Springfield 1636 and 191 i 



■'riif Worshipful Major ryiiclion" aiul. lati-r: "'I'lic Worshipful (oloiicl. ' 
Thf bricks used in tliis c-oustructioTi were iiiatlc in Northauiptoii. I'lir 
carpiMitcrs and masons were from W'intlsor. 'I'hi' buildin}^- was li fci-t lon^' 
and il ft'ct widf. The w alls were \crv thick and solid, rising about 11 feet 
from the <ir()und to the caM's. IJic roof was very steep and the ridge was 
about 11 feet in perpi-ndicular height above the garret floor. It was 
tiesigneil to be a fortifieil house, and was actually used as such during the 
Indian war. 

"This building I'cniaini'd in the occupation of the I'ynclioiis until it was 
tiemolislu-d, in 1S.'}1. to make room for a more modern house. It was long 
known as the "old fort." The wooden house which hatl been the home of 
William I'ynchon was connected with tlu- new brick housi' and made to 
.serve as an appendage to it. It was removi'd in I SSI to the easterly part 
of Cross street where in an altered statt'. in ISSU. it serves as a dwelling 
house and lainitlry. 

■■ I'ntil the year KfT.T. tlic rclat ions of the people of Springtield \\ith 
tile Indians wert- amicable .and pleasant. The Indian sold his beavt'r antl 
other turs to Pynchon. and, in return, purchased from him such goods ,as 
Pynchon ki-pt in store as suited to the Intlian's needs. Firearms ami am- 
munition only were prohibited articles. The redmen roamed the streets 
of the town, and visited freely the houses of the whites. Xo cause of dis- 
satisfaction or discontent was known to exist on the part of the Indians. 
They had what was known as a fort in the southerly part of the town, 
but this created no uneasiness on the part of their white neighbors. Prob- 
alily the whole Indian j)opulation in the town and its immediate vicinity 
did not exceeil two hunclreil ))crsons. 

*"In l()7,j the disturbances fomenti-ti by I'liilip. the chief <if tin- 
Wanipanoags. began in the soutlu-astern i)art of tlu- state, anil gradually 
spread westward until they reached the valley of the Connecticut. Philip 
himself was said to have visited the Agawam Indians, anil induceil them to 
join the confederacy against the whites. About 800 hostile Indians were 
secretly introdui'ed into their fort, and every preparation maile to assault 
Springfielil and slaughter its inhabitants. The time was favorable for the 
attempt. The soldiers who had been stationed here as a garrison were 
ti'mporarily absent with Major P\ nchon. their commander, on an exi)eili- 
tion about v?0 miles uptiie river, to check some iiostile di'monstrations there. 
The intention of Philip's men became known to tlii' j)eo])li' at Wintlsor 
through the disclosures of a friendly Indian; and timely warning was sent 
to Springfield, and to Major Pynchon at Hadley. The people generally 
took refuge in the fortified houses of which there were three, one of them 
the Pynchon house and the others in the south part of the street. Three 
men and one woman were killed by the Indians. Thirty-two houses anil 
twenty-five barns were burned, with Major Pynchoir's i-orn-mill and saw- 
mill. 

"Discouraged by these disasters. occiu*ring just as winter was ap- 
proaching, and fearful of the suftcring likely to follow the destruction of 
their houses and stores which they had gatiu'red for the winter, many of 
the inhabitants were inclined to abanilon the town, and seek a home else- 
where. But wiser counsels pri'vailcd and most of them remained to repair 
the losses they had sustained. After this nuinifestation of their treachery 
the Indians withdrew from Sjiringticld." 



Press of L o R I N »; - .\ X r k i. i, C o m r a n v . .s » /■ / n ;/ f i e I <l . M ass. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



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